Feilding

Feilding is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 54, 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North.

The town is a service town for the surrounding farming district. The Manawatu Plains, on which the town is sited, are very fertile land, and as such it is a prosperous agricultural area. Being located on the floodplain of a major river has its problems, however, and in February 2004 the town suffered extensive flooding, with approximately 150 homes rendered uninhabitable.

Feilding has won the annual New Zealands Most Beautiful Town award 14 times, also the town is the seat of the Manawatu District Council.

The town is currently undergoing renovations in all areas of the main centre, lately Manchester Street. The square has been completed, with funding from both the council and public. Bricks and tiles were available for public to purchase as part of their donation. These display their name, and with some a message to be left for the town to read.

History

The town was named after Colonel William Henry Adelbert Feilding, a director of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation Ltd. who negotiated the purchase of a 100,000 acre (400 km²) block of land from the Wellington provincial government in 1871. The first settlers arrived from Great Britain on 22 January 1874.

Features

• One of New Zealand's main motor racing circuits, Manfeild, is located at the southern edge of the town
• There is an active light aircraft airfield at the eastern edge of the town
• The depot of the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society is located in the town and it runs railway excursions from this base.
• Feilding has the largest stock saleyards in the southern hemisphere right in the central business area.
• There are no traffic lights and no parking meters.

Education in Feilding

Secondary schools

• Feilding High School

Primary and intermediate schools

• Feilding Intermediate School is a state, coeducational intermediate (years 7-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 312. It was established in 1964. ^[3]
• Lytton Street School is a state, coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 441. ^[4]
• Manchester Street School is a state, coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 288. ^[5]
• North Street School is a state, coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 481. ^[6]
• St Joseph's School is an integrated coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 124. ^[7]

Notable personalities

Famous people from Feilding include:

• Murray Ball (the kiwiana cartoonist who drew Footrot Flats)
• Tom Scott; also a New Zealand cartoonist; was born here.
• Evermore popular musical group.
• W. H. Oliver was born in Feilding.
• Glen Jackson (rugby player); was born here.
• Glenn Standring (the film director); was born here.
• The Honourable Sir Edward (Eddie) Taihakurei Durie (former High Court Judge and Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court); was born here.
• Professor Sir Mason Durie (Deputy Vice Chancellor of Massey University, and brother of Edward Durie); was born here.
• Keith Elliott VC, recipient of the Victoria Cross medal, attended high school in Feilding.
• Malcolm Bailey, Director of Fonterra, former Chairman of Federated Farmers and former Eltobian of the year.

References

External links

• Feilding promotional website
• Colonel Henry Feilding on 1981 20c stamp